Hollywood loves a sequel. At least, that's what you'd think considering how many blockbuster follow-ups we get nowadays. Let... Show More »

Hollywood loves a sequel. At least, that's what you'd think considering how many blockbuster follow-ups we get nowadays. Let's take a look at the good ones and the not-so-good ones. « Less

2/17

The 'Alien' movies:

The Good: The first two "Alien" movies are edge-of-your-seat sci-fi marvels. It's fun to debate whether "Alien... Show More »

The Good: The first two "Alien" movies are edge-of-your-seat sci-fi marvels. It's fun to debate whether "Alien" or "Aliens" is the superior film, but we can all agree -- they're both good.

The Bad: Sigourney Weaver originally wanted nothing to do with "Alien 3," but somehow got duped into it. It was looking like that was the end, until ...

The Ugly: Ripley is cloned and Winona Ryder stops by in "Alien Resurrection." When Alien later takes on Predator (twice), it moves into full-on camp.

Did sort-of-prequel "Prometheus" resurrect the franchise in a good way? « Less

3/17

The 'Die Hard' franchise:

The Good: The original "Die Hard" is arguably the best action movie of all time. "Die Hard with a Vengeance" ... Show More »

The Good: The original "Die Hard" is arguably the best action movie of all time. "Die Hard with a Vengeance" ain't too shabby either.

The Bad: "Die Hard 2: Die Harder" was a pretty mediocre follow-up to the first one. Luckily, Samuel L. Jackson came on for the third one to save the day. The fifth one was a mixed bag -- some loved it, others found it tiresome and run-of-the-mill.

The Good: The original "Fast and the Furious" was at least a lot of fun.

The Bad: The rest of the series.

The Ugly: Have you seen the trailer for "Fast & Furious 6"? Just because Diesel and Walker are still involved does not mean this is a winner. « Less

5/17

The 'Friday the 13th' series:

The Good: The original is a straight-up horror movie classic -- and it doesn't even have Jason Vorhe... Show More »

The Good: The original is a straight-up horror movie classic -- and it doesn't even have Jason Vorhees lurking about. The "Freddy vs. Jason" offering was a lot of fun, while surprisingly, so was the 2009 reboot.

The Bad: There is so much bad here. Our favorite of the baddies is definitely VII, where the heroine has telekinetic powers and Bernie from "Weekend at Bernies" is her therapist.

The Good: The first couple "Halloween" movies were excellent frightfests. Michael Myers is one of cinema's... Show More »

The Good: The first couple "Halloween" movies were excellent frightfests. Michael Myers is one of cinema's creepiest villains and the music is downright terrifying. The Rob Zombie reboots have also been quite scary.

The Bad: Nos. 3 through 6 each got progressively worse.

The Ugly: How on earth "Halloween H20" got Jamie Lee Curtis is beyond us. « Less

7/17

The James Bond franchise:

The Good: The James Bond franchise is a special case -- it really fluctuates depending on the era and the current Bond.... Show More »

The Good: The James Bond franchise is a special case -- it really fluctuates depending on the era and the current Bond. Sean Connery and Roger Moore are fairly universally liked, as well as current Bond, Daniel Craig.

"On Her Majesty's Secret Service" is also one of those sneaky Bond films that people forget about, but is considered by fans to be one of the best.

The Bad: The Timothy Dalton years are pretty bad and we aren't in love with many of the Pierce Brosnan ones either.

The Ugly: The absolute low point in the series was Denise Richards as a nuclear physicist named Christmas Jones. « Less

8/17

The 'Jaws' movies:

The Good: The original "Jaws" is a cinematic masterpiece. There really did not need to be any more.

The Good: The original "Jaws" is a cinematic masterpiece. There really did not need to be any more.

The Bad: Both "Jaws II," with the teenagers, and "Jaws III," at the Seaworld knock-off with Dennis Quaid, are bad in a fun way.

The Ugly: What is not bad in a fun way is "Jaws IV." The only thing redeeming about that movie is its tagline, which gave us the always-good-for-a-joke "This time, it's personal." « Less

9/17

The 'Nightmare on Elm Street' movies:

The Good: The original, of course. And "New Nightmare" was rather awesome in its meta-ness, as We... Show More »

The Good: The original, of course. And "New Nightmare" was rather awesome in its meta-ness, as Wes Craven, Heather Langenkamp and Robert Englund all appear as themselves.

The Bad: The franchise really went off the rails when "dream powers" were being transferred between people.

The Ugly: The 2010 reboot was terrible, panned as a paint-by-numbers echo of the original. « Less

10/17

The 'Paranormal Activity' series:

The Good: The original "Paranormal Activity" was a ground-breaking blockbuster. It was utterly terrif... Show More »

The Good: The original "Paranormal Activity" was a ground-breaking blockbuster. It was utterly terrifying and refreshingly original.

The Bad: Each subsequent film has gotten lamer and lamer.

The Ugly: We aren't sure what material there is left to mine with the fifth installment, but we guess we'll find out this October. « Less

11/17

The 'Police Academy' movies:

The Good: The first couple are stereotypical '80s romps -- a group of underdogs set out to prove them... Show More »

The Good: The first couple are stereotypical '80s romps -- a group of underdogs set out to prove themselves, led by a charming and cheeky cute guy (Steve Guttenberg).

The Bad: As with many funny caper movies, the joke is stretched out over several sequels without adding anything new (and usually losing key players in the process). Thus was the case with the franchise heading for Miami Beach. And Moscow.

The Ugly: Did you know there's an eighth installment currently being put into production? Yikes. « Less

12/17

The 'Psycho' films:

The Good: "Psycho" is one of the best films ever made.

The Bad: There were three follow-ups, each worse than the las... Show More »

The Good: "Psycho" is one of the best films ever made.

The Bad: There were three follow-ups, each worse than the last. Can you believe Anthony Perkins kept reprising the role of Norman Bates?

The Ugly: The shot-for-shot remake of the original was awful. Sorry, Gus Van Sant. Even if it's shot-for-shot, you're no Hitchcock. « Less

13/17

The 'Rocky' franchise:

The Good: Did you know the original "Rocky," story of an underdog boxer fighting for respect, won Best Picture i... Show More »

The Good: Did you know the original "Rocky," story of an underdog boxer fighting for respect, won Best Picture in 1975? The second "Rocky" wasn't too bad either. Critics and fans are split on "Rocky V" and "Rocky Balboa," two very sentimental sequels.

The Bad: "Rocky III" is bad in a fun way, with Rocky fighting Mr. T.

The Ugly: Ivan Drago is bad in not-a-fun way. This installment won five Razzies. « Less

14/17

The 'Saw' series:

The Good: The original "Saw" was enormously clever and introduced a terrifying new horror movie villain named Jigsaw.... Show More »

The Good: The original "Saw" was enormously clever and introduced a terrifying new horror movie villain named Jigsaw.

The Bad: The sequels that are actually flashbacks.

The Ugly: The sequels get more and more ridiculous, ultimately devolving into what a lot of critics have deemed "torture porn." « Less

15/17

The 'Scary Movie' series:

16/17

The 'Star Wars' franchise:

The Good: The original trilogy from the '70s and '80s is one of the preeminent sci-fi series out t... Show More »

The Good: The original trilogy from the '70s and '80s is one of the preeminent sci-fi series out there. Though don't even get us started on ewoks.

The Bad: The subsequent three films were a mixed bag, with "Phantom Menace" definitely the weakest of the bunch.

The Ugly: There really isn't any ugly here. The series is going to see its final three movies made, the seventh of which is being directed by J.J. Abrams and has many original cast members rumored to be returning. There are also going to be character-based spinoffs. « Less

17/17

The 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' movies:

The Good: The original is a horror movie classic and considered one of the very first slasher fli... Show More »

The Good: The original is a horror movie classic and considered one of the very first slasher flicks.

The Bad: The sequels are completely disjointed, taking huge time leaps and oftentimes ignoring the previous movies. Really the only thing they have in common is someone wearing a Leatherface mask and wielding a chainsaw.

The Ugly: 2013 saw a 3D version be released, just what the franchise needed. It was universally panned and hopefully marks the end of trying to capitalize on the original. « Less